2. From studies of chemistry, we know that in a straight chainhydrocarbon, such as a fatty acid, each methylene group lengthensthe chain by about 0.13 nm. From studies of protein structure, weknow that one turn of an α-helix takes 3.6 amino acid residues andlengthens the axis of the helix by about 0.56 nm. Using thisinformation, answer the following questions: (Answer parts a-c toone decimal place in units of nm, e.g. 9.0 nm.)
a. (1 pt) Using this information, how thick is the non-polarcore of the bilayer containing the GLUT1 transporter (i.e. what isthe length of each helix)?
b. (1 pt) How many fatty acid methylene groups would be neededto span this distance? (Round to closest whole number.)
c. (1 pt) Since fatty acids in membrane lipids always have aneven number of carbons in their chains, what chain lengths might becommon in this membrane? (Write the number of carbons. More thanone number may be correct.)
d. (2 pts) Most membrane lipids have 16 or 18 carbons, how canthe length of these fatty acids be accommodated in themembrane?
2. From studies of chemistry, we know that in a straight chainhydrocarbon, such as a fatty acid, each methylene group lengthensthe chain by about 0.13 nm. From studies of protein structure, weknow that one turn of an α-helix takes 3.6 amino acid residues andlengthens the axis of the helix by about 0.56 nm. Using thisinformation, answer the following questions: (Answer parts a-c toone decimal place in units of nm, e.g. 9.0 nm.)
a. (1 pt) Using this information, how thick is the non-polarcore of the bilayer containing the GLUT1 transporter (i.e. what isthe length of each helix)?
b. (1 pt) How many fatty acid methylene groups would be neededto span this distance? (Round to closest whole number.)
c. (1 pt) Since fatty acids in membrane lipids always have aneven number of carbons in their chains, what chain lengths might becommon in this membrane? (Write the number of carbons. More thanone number may be correct.)
d. (2 pts) Most membrane lipids have 16 or 18 carbons, how canthe length of these fatty acids be accommodated in themembrane?
